OTTAWA, May 10, 2016 /CNW/ - The devastating situation in Fort McMurray and Alberta has resulted in an outpouring of generosity from Canadians across the country, many of whom are opening up their wallets to help support the thousands of residents displaced by this massive wildfire.

While situations like these often bring out the best in people, they unfortunately also bring out the worst in some people. The Competition Bureau is warning Canadians that scammers may be looking to take advantage of your kindness by asking for donations or masking themselves as fake charities in order to profit from this disaster.

In order to ensure your donations go to legitimate charities, keep in mind the following:

Don't give cash or financial information if you have any doubts about the legitimacy of a website, organization or individual asking for donations.